NAFA CEO Phil Russo, CAE: NAFA Has Always Been All-Inclusive

A recent article may have caused some confusion that I would like to clear up. The article stated there is a "new category of fleet manager" in the industry and went on to explain how fleet management companies are hiring former corporate fleet managers to run their clients’ fleets. In other words, "Fleet Manager A" used to work for "Corporation X" but now "Fleet Manager A" works for "Fleet Management Company Y" and runs the fleet for "Corporation X" as a contractor, rather than an employee.

The article also stated, "Already, industry associations, such as NAFA, have recognized this new fleet manager category. For instance, these fleet managers, whose sole responsibility is managing a client’s fleet, are eligible to become full NAFA members, a membership category which is reserved for only fleet managers."

The inference in the last statement is that NAFA just recently realized this change and, as a result, changed our membership qualifications. This is incorrect. There has been no recent revelation on NAFA’s part and no change in NAFA’s bylaws or thinking about what constitutes a "Member" of NAFA.

The fact is, NAFA’s bylaws have ALWAYS permitted individuals who perform the usual and customary duties of a motor vehicle fleet administrator — regardless of their employer — to be Members of the Association, provided their duties in no way include the sale, lease, and/or rental of products or services provided by their employer. Here’s the legal language from NAFA’s bylaws, which are available to everyone at http://www.nafa.org/about-nafa/bylaws-nafa-policies/:

1. FULL MEMBER. Any person who subscribes to the aims and purposes of the Corporation is eligible to be a Full Member if that person is one: (a) who is responsible for the administration of a motor vehicle fleet of twenty-five (25) or more vehicles (as said vehicles shall from time to time be defined by the Board of Trustees); and (b) who performs the usual and customary duties of a motor vehicle fleet administrator (as those duties shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Trustees) for a firm or unit of government or other entity; and (c) whose duties do not include the sale, lease, and/or rental of products or services for or relating to motor vehicles or motor vehicle management.

2. ASSOCIATE MEMBER. Any person is eligible to be an Associate Member who: (a) fulfills the requirements of a Full Member but administers a fleet of less than twenty-five (25) units; or (b) is an assistant to a person who is a Full Member or is a person who reports to and is supervised by a Full Member.

So, those individuals at fleet management companies who are solely providing fleet management services are, and always have been, by definition, eligible to become Members of NAFA so long as they are not involved in sales in any way.

As a safeguard to ensure applicants meet our membership qualifications, the NAFA membership application includes several statements through which the applicant attests that he/she performs those usual and customary duties and is not involved in sales in any way. Even with those questions on the application, the NAFA staff, NAFA Membership Committee, and, if necessary, the NAFA Board of Trustees, have responsibility for ensuring individuals applying for membership meet all the requirements stated in the bylaws.

NAFA always has been all-inclusive. It’s been our strength and our differentiation for nearly 60 years.

Thanks for letting me clarify this important aspect of NAFA membership.

Sincerely,

Phil

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